A THIRD of Welsh students have considered dropping out of university as they battle with mounting financial pressures, according to new Assembly statistics.

A THIRD of Welsh students have considered dropping out of university as they battle with mounting financial pressures, according to new Assembly statistics.

The Student Income and Expenditure Survey found that three in 10 students – 33% of part-timers and 29% of full-timers – had considered quitting their courses, with most full-timers citing rising debts as the main reason.

Almost three in five full-time students (58%) felt financial stress had a negative effect on their academic progress.

And more than a quarter of students said concerns over debt nearly stopped them going to university altogether.

Student union body NUS Wales yesterday reiterated the need for a national bursary scheme for university students, more transparency on hidden course costs and more support for part-time students.

Almost 50% of part-time students indicated that issues over the availability of funding had led them to studying part-time, with 35% of full-time and 28% of part-time students admitting the availability of funding affected their decisions about higher education.

As borrowing levels increased by 5% for part-time students, average savings levels have fallen, showing that average net debt among part-time students has increased since the previous survey from an estimated surplus to a small debt.

NUS Wales president Ben Gray said: “In light of these results, it is not acceptable that a third of students have to choose which course to study based on the amount of financial support which will be available to them rather than on the quality of the course or their personal interest.

“We need a national bursary scheme so that all financial support is based on how much a student needs it, not where they happen to be studying. We cannot leave this in the hands of individual institutions.

“At a time when students are likely to find studying full-time more challenging, we need concrete measures to support part-time students further.”

An Assembly Government spokesman said: “We are determined to ensure that financial barriers should not deter potential and existing students from entering higher education, that’s why we recently announced enhanced maintenance grant support aimed to help students from lower income households.

“The enhanced means-tested Assembly learning grant, along with a package of debt relief and a national bursary scheme will help reduce the cost and debt associated with higher education for those students who need it most.”

Cardiff Students’ Union president Andy Button-Stephens said: “It’s clearly a massive consideration for students as to whether higher education is worth the high financial burden whilst at university and for the years spent paying off the debt.”

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.